Akubra: Stylemaster v. Cattleman

[Harrison Krupnick]

Hi everyone. Looking into hats and was wondering if you could offer some insights on the Stylemaster and the Cattleman. I want a hat thats more outdoorsy-looking even though I live in NYC and plan to wear it with more business casual type clothing. I have a very small head and currently have the Stylemaster which I just bought from JJ Hat Center, pic to follow. My concern with it is that it seems a little too formal for my tastes, especially with the bound edge. I really like the cattleman however I think the Stylemaster is borderline too big for me and that would make the Cattleman look ridiculous. What are you thoughts and suggestions?

This is the Stylemaster for reference. Please note that the photo is not 100% representative of the fit of the hat due to the angle of the photo.

 

[Renault]

Have you looked at the Bushman?

 

[Doctor Strange]

The Cattleman is a MUCH bigger hat than the Stylemaster... and keep in mind that it will be perceived as a "cowboy hat" in NYC. Are you brave enough for that?

If you think the Stylemaster is too big for you - I think it looks excellent - I'd avoid the Cattleman. If you want a country hat, I suggest the smaller-brimmed Stockman (2-3/4 inch brim vs. 3-1/4 - only a quarter-inch wider than the Stylemaster). It generally "reads" somewhere between a western hat and a fedora.

I own all three of these hats, and I'd be a lot more likely to wear the Stockman than the Cattleman in NYC... if I ever got down there these days! (Though it's more likely that I'd wear a fedora or panama... I use my country hats for hiking and yard work, not city adventures.) Pics of all three on the same head below:

 

[gtdean48]

Have you looked at the Bushman?

Bushman is a lot a brim, Campdraft is slightly less, both "country" hats = less formal/more casual
Leisure Time is a nice model for less dressy look.
Stockman is a bit more Outback & will get you the "cowboy" comments for sure..

 

[Renault]

My Bushman;

 

[javadave61]

View attachment 27701

Let's see if I can make my thoughts make sense... I think Dr Strange is onto something. I have the Stockman and think the Aussie look is independent enough from American culture that it has a nice standalone style. The fedora definitely says vintage/retro. The western definitely says cowboy. Both the fedora and the Western evoke a personal reaction in most Americans, with specific feelings evident in your NYC context. But the Stockman is kind of an independent third party that stands outside of the American emotional ties to hat styles. So it might work there. Just a thought.

 

[Blackthorn]

The Stylemaster is a city hat, the Cattleman is a country hat. My .02...

 

[Historyteach24]

I'd say the hat you are wearing is spot on for what you want. I have a stockman that gets cowboy comments all the time
And here is a campdraft as others have suggested

 

[tropicalbob]

I'm from N.Y. originally, and I think I know what you're asking. The Stylemaster looks fine on you for the city and so would the Campdraft, which is just odd-looking enough to get people's attention, but in a "Wow, cool hat that guy's wearing" kind of way." I got a bluegrass version recently and am totally nuts over it.

 

[RJR]

I favor the Campdraft personally.

 

[Obsessed]

I have a Stylemaster and I'm thinking I want something with a non-fedora look. It seems to me that if I want to wear it to work in NYC as opposed to restricting it to suburban weekend use, I'll need to either get something like a Banjo or Leisure Time or something with a shape like the Coober Pedy, Lightning, Ridge, Coolabah, etc. I might be able to pull of something like the Angler or even the Lawson with a slight upturn on the sides, but the Stockman might be too much. That grey Stockman in the photo above looks great, by the way.

I've kind of had my eye on the Riverina in sand for summer weekend use.

 

[Historyteach24]

I have a Stylemaster and I'm thinking I want something with a non-fedora look. It seems to me that if I want to wear it to work in NYC as opposed to restricting it to suburban weekend use, I'll need to either get something like a Banjo or Leisure Time or something with a shape like the Coober Pedy, Lightning, Ridge, Coolabah, etc. I might be able to pull of something like the Angler or even the Lawson with a slight upturn on the sides, but the Stockman might be too much. That grey Stockman in the photo above looks great, by the way.

I've kind of had my eye on the Riverina in sand for summer weekend use.

The riverina is massive

 

[Obsessed]

The riverina is massive

"Massive" sounds like a tad bit more than I may want. On the other hand, maybe I'll make a statement. Just as long as the statement isn't "I'm a jackass."

 

[Historyteach24]

The riverina is an outdoor hat for hunting and fishing

 

[Obsessed]

The riverina is an outdoor hat for hunting and fishing

Thanks. Yeah, that sounds like more of a statement than I need to make!

 

[ingineer]

A little peek at NYC fashion, stingy is so out
http://www.thecoli.com/threads/whats-the-1-fashion-trend-style-you-absolutely-hate-right-now.308139/

 

[Obsessed]

OP, to your point about the Stylemaster looking too formal, it's hard to tell from the picture, but is it the Acorn color? If so, I personally would not regard it as too formal at all. I see it as a more informal color than any of the grays.

 

[Brother cavefish]

i am a snowy man myself, personally , you are not a big framed man, so any big hat will not compliment you, and thats what a hat does right, bring out the better you, at least in our minds. I have 3 snowys one I shortened the brim 1/4" . I have had 6 snowys and all 6 looked different

 

[hatguy1]

I'd say the hat you are wearing is spot on for what you want. I have a stockman that gets cowboy comments all the time
And here is a campdraft as others have suggested

Sharp lookin' hat, that.

 

[Harrison Krupnick]

Thank you all for the suggestions. The following are some inspiration. I know these are not Akubras and they are also quite a bit worn in but with these in mind what do any of your opinions change?



Is there anyway of achieving this type of look with my Stylemaster?